Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 254102 (2008)

A team of researchers has made three-dimensional 'atom chips' that give unprecedented control over Bose–Einstein condensates (BECs) — clouds of extremely cold atoms that all share the same quantum state.

Thorsten Schumm at Vienna University of Technology and his colleagues used ultraviolet light and electron beams to pattern multiple wiring layers, separated by insulators, onto a semiconductor. By running currents through the wires, the team created magnetic potentials able to hold and manipulate BECs.

For instance, they can split a BEC in two and perform experiments on its halves. They believe that the work might lead to highly sensitive magnetometers and applications in quantum information technology.